Pune: Small-Scale Industrialists in Pimpri Chinchwad Distressed by Anti-Encroachment Drive
Chikhali, 12th February 2025: Small-scale industrialists in Pimpri-Chinchwad, are facing a crisis as authorities conduct an anti-encroachment drive against approximately 2,200 small industries, including scrap shops and warehouses in the Chikali-Kudalwadi area. The operation has left entrepreneurs scrambling to find alternative spaces to store machinery and equipment worth crores of rupees.
The affected business owners are desperately searching for rental spaces in areas such as Moshi, Talawade, Bhosari, Chakan, and Kuruli. However, their efforts are being hampered by landlords who have significantly increased rental rates in response to the sudden surge in demand. This has left many industrialists feeling helpless and cornered from all sides.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) initiated the anti-encroachment drive due to increasing fire incidents and pollution concerns. Over the past four days, the operation has targeted structures in the Chikali and Kudalwadi areas, demolishing 2,317 constructions and tin sheds spread across 372 acres.
While the PCMC claims to have issued notices to property owners before the drive, industrialists complain that they were not informed by the landlords about these notices. As a result, many business owners did not have sufficient time to remove their machinery and equipment, some of which are valued between Rs 5 lakhs to Rs 2 Crores.
The sudden displacement has also affected the workforce, with reports suggesting that over one lakh workers may have lost their jobs due to the anti-encroachment drive. Many of these workers, who came from various parts of Maharashtra and states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have started returning to their hometowns.
Sandeep Belsare, President of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Small Scale Industries Association, criticized the short notice period of fifteen days given to companies for removing encroachments. He stated that more time was necessary to dismantle and relocate machinery and sheds, and the hasty action has left over one lakh workers unemployed.
